Raindrops examined it, scientifically interested. “Ditching hot air balloons, then?”
Grinning, Cherry Berry dropped the wrench. “Please. This represents progress.”
“Uh?”
Cherry scoffed. “Why should you pegasi have the skies to yourselves? I don’t remember being asked what tribe I’d like to be.”
Me neither, thought Raindrops. “Something wrong with earth ponydom? Closer families, nature affinities, practical-minded.”
“Ground-bound, bull-headed, single-minded.”
“Unlike you, then?”
“I can choose.” Cherry snapped her goggles and pedalled.
Whirring, clanking, rattling, the whirligig rose arthritically.
Raindrops admired it. Unlike most pegasi, she preferred hard mechanics to airy clouds. More… grounded.
Cherry started cheering, then something pinged. She focused, grim-faced, sweating.
After five minutes, gravity defeated her again.
THUMP!
She tore off the goggles, panting.
“There!” She coughed. “Needs…”
“Better torque ratio? Pedal's obviously too loose. Allow me.” Raindrops hefted the wrench. “I’ve studied.”
“You!?”
“Hey! Can’t I choose too?”
“Well… yeah…”
“Excellent. Shall we start?”
“…sure.”